Kalanchoe plant named ‘KJ 2001 0934’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘KJ 2001 0934’, characterized by its upright and compact plant growth habit; small, dark green-colored leaves; light red purple-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ 2001 0934.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KJ 2001 0934’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to create new freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars with large flowers, small leaves and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made in Hinnerup, Denmark of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319, as the female, or seed, parent with the Kalanchoe cultivar Anatole, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings at Hinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KJ 2001 0934 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KJ 2001 0934’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KJ 2001 0934’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant growth habit.     -   2. Small, dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Light red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe are most similar to plants of the parent cultivars and differ primarily from plants of the parent cultivars in leaf size, flower size and flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the cultivar Helene, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,963. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Helene in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were stronger than plants of the         cultivar Helene.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of         the cultivar Helene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors are true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse natural light conditions on an overcast day at approximately noon in Hinnerup, Denmark.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘KJ 2001 0934’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KJ 2001 0934’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in the photographs and for the following observations and measurements were grown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse for about eleven weeks after the start of short day/long night photoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C. Plants used in the description and photographs were not pinched. Unless otherwise specified, the leaf description represents leaves from a vegetative plant.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ 2001     0934. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar             Simone 2000, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,319.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar             Anatole, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About two weeks.         -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and             well-branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright plant habit with numerous compound cymes;             freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether             or not plants are pinched (apical terminals removed).         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of             terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral             branch development.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 22 cm.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Size:             Leaf size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetative             plants: Length: About 10 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Reproductive             plants: Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape:             Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate;             undulate. Aspect: Slightly concave. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous; leathery; succulent. Color: Developing             foliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower             surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A.             Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound             dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright             flowering stems. Freely flowering. Flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Winter to early spring; flower             initiation and development can be induced under short             day/long night conditions.         -   Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing             temperatures, about eleven weeks of short day/long night             conditions are required to produce flowering plants. During             the winter with supplemental lighting and 20° C. growing             temperatures, about eleven weeks of short day/long night             conditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to             flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light             intensity.         -   Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at             the main axis and is followed by the opening of the terminal             flowers of the side branches of the inflorescence. About 1.5             weeks after the first flower has opened, 50% of the             remaining flowers are open.         -   Post-production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             maintain good leaf and flower substance for at least five             weeks under interior environmental conditions.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Quantity.—Freely flowering; primary cymes with about 100 to             200 flowers each.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 4 mm. Color: 29B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Four fused at base. Length:             About 9 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape: Round obovate.             Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; satiny. Color: Upper surface:             69A; towards the base, 63B. Lower surface: 49D.         -   Sepals.—Calyx length: About 1 cm. Calyx diameter: About             3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 139D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 to 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: About six.             Anther shape: Slightly oblong. Anther color: 14B. Filament             color: Green, close to 145A. Pollen color: Yellow, close to             9A. Pistils: Pistil number: About four. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Style color: Light green, close to 145A. Stigma shape:             Round. Ovaries: Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About             6 mm by 1 mm. Ovary color: Light green, close to 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known pathogens and pests     common to Kalanchoe has not been observed on plants of the new     Kalanchoe grown under commercial greenhouse conditions. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘KJ 2001 0934’, as illustrated and described. 